And then there were two...

THE search for the next England manager is nearing its climax with Martin O’Neill and Steve McClaren apparently neck-and-neck in the race to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson.

The FA’s nominations panel are expected to finish interviewing the candidates on the shortlist this week.

The panel - FA chairman Geoff Thompson, chief executive Brian Barwick, international committee chairman Noel White, Premier League chairman Dave Richards, Arsenal vice-chairman and FA board member David Dein and FA director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking - will then meet to decide on their first choice. But a decision on the timing of any announcement has yet to be made.